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The Principles of a Glucometer

Glucometers are instruments that measure the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. These devices are more accurate than urine tests and permit diabetics to manage their diabetes and prevent diabetes complications. Glucometers contain an enzyme, either glucose hexokinase or oxidase, that reacts with blood sugar. This enzyme either generates an electric current or causes a color change. The glucometer measures the electric current or color change and translates it into a numerical value. Some glucometers express this value as milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) while others use millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

  1. Types of Glucometers

    • Glucometers come in different shapes and sizes. Some larger models are well-suited to elderly individuals and individuals suffering from arthritis. Smaller, more compact models benefit active individuals who require frequent blood sugar monitoring. Some models have internal memory that records fluctuations in blood sugar levels over time, while others contain software for users to upload data to their computer.

    Instructions

    • Operating instructions for glucometers vary according to the model. These instructions will work for the majority of glucometers. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water. This is necessary to remove any sugars present on your skin that could distort the glucometer's reading. Take a test strip and insert it into the glucometer. Prick the side of your finger with the lancet, or, if your model allows it, prick an alternate site such as your thigh or forearm. Lower your arm and hand so that a drop of blood can form at the prick site. Alternatively, you can gently squeeze the prick site. Touch the blood droplet, but not your skin, to the test strip and wait for the glucometer to display your reading. Finally, record your level in your blood sugar level log.

    Frequency and Time of Testing

    • The frequency and timing of blood sugar testing depends on whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, other medical conditions and how well you control your blood sugar. In general, individuals with type 1 diabetes must test their blood sugar more frequently than those with type 2. Individuals with type 1 diabetes generally test their blood sugar more than three times a day, especially when their work, exercise or diet changes. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are often encouraged to monitor their blood sugar between one and three times daily, depending on how under control their blood sugar levels are. Always follow your doctor's specific recommendations.

    Optimal Readings

    • The doctors at the Mayo Clinic provide a list of target blood sugar levels. According to these experts, after an eight-hour fast, the target blood sugar level ranges from 5 to 7 mmol/L, or 90 to 130 mg/L. Optimal blood sugar levels before meals range from 4 to 7 mmol/L, or from 70 to 130 mg/L. In the two hours after a meal, blood sugar levels should not rise above 10 mmol/L, or 180 mg/L. For certain individuals---such as pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people suffering from diabetes complications---these optimal levels can vary. Your doctor can provide you with your individual target blood sugar ranges.

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